Apfabattjs fob treatment of liquids



Sept. 9. 1924. 1,507,699

W. S. ELLIOTT APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 14-. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

Sept. 9. 1924/ 1,507,699

W. S. ELLIOTT I APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS I i k I IIIIIIIIIIIIII I 'l llllll lzllrlli b I I I a I lllunnuunn/l,

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS Filed Jan. 14 1921 s Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

. Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,507,699 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNS YLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF LIQUIDS.

Application filed January 14, 1921.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. Emorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Figure 2 is a vertica section on the line IIII of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is .a top plan view of the apparatus.

My invention has relation. to apparatus A for the separation of air and other dissolved gases from water and other liquid; and more particularly to ap aratus for use in carrying out the method 0? changing the phase of a sufiicient percentage of the water to effect the removal therefrom of substantially all of the a-ir..

In the ractice of said method a large amount '0 carbonates are released in the separator which causes an accumulation 01': scale and mud therein which it is necessary to remove at f uent intervals. The heating of the water 1n the heater likewise produces more or less ecipitation which necessitates frequent c eaning; Repairs to either the heater or the separator are sometimes required. An important feature of the method is that it should be as continuous in its operation as is possible.

The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this character in which the separating operations may be carried on continuously without interruption; and to this end the invention consists in providing apparatus having a pluralit of chambers,

- some of which may be used either asheating chambers or as separating chambers; together' with the necessary connections to enable this to be done and also means where by any one of the chambers may be isolated without afiecting the operations in the remaining chambers.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which; I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, and which will now be described, it being premised however that the apparatus is susceptible Serial No. 487,240.

of many different embodiments within the spirit and scope of the broader claims.

In these drawings the numeral 2 designates a vertical cylindrical casing, which may be formed in superimposed sections and in which is divided interiorly into the three compartments, A, B and C by suitable partitions or separating walls 2 and 2". 3

designates a steam supply connection having two branches 3 and 3? which communicate respectively with the compartments A and B, each of these branches having a. separate control valve 4 and 4.

5 designates a supply line for the liquid to be treated, this also having the two branches 5 and 5*, each branch having therein a control valve 6 or 7, the valve 6 being controlled by a float 8 in the compartment A,

and the valve 7 being controlled by a float 9.

in the compartment B. Each of the branches 5 and 5}. may also be provided with a manually operated gate valve 10. The valves 6 and 7 are controlled by the floats 8 and 9 to maintain a constant water level in the respective compartments when in use. 11 designates a condenser having an exhaust connection at 12 with the compartment B, and another connection at 13 with the compartment C, each of these connections having an inde ndent control valve 14 and 15, respectively. 16- designates an ejector for exhausting the non-condensable gases from the condenser and for assisting in maintaining a partial vacuum in the chamber or chambers to which the condenser is connected.

17 designates a'pipe having one branch 18 which communicates with the lower portion of the chamber A; a second branch 19 which communicates with the upper portion of the chamber B and a third branch 20 which communicates with the upper portion of the chamber C. Each of these three branches is provided with-'amanually actuated shut-0E valve 21, 22 and 23, respectively. The branch 19 is also provided with a control valve 24 which is actuated by a float 25 in the chamber B. The branch 20 also has a control valve 26 actuated by a float 27 in the chamber C. The branch 19, enters a distributor 28 in the upper portion of the chamber B, this distributor acting to distribute the liquid over the corrugated pans 29 or other suitable distributi devices. In like manner the branch 20 of t fie pipe 17 enters a similar distributor 30 in the upper portion of the chamber C, thisdistributor' distributing the liquid to the pans or other distributing devices 31 in said chamber C.

32 designates a pipe which has one branch 33 communicating with the lower portion of thechamber B; a second branch 34 communicating with the distributor 30 in the chamber C; and the third branch 35 communicating with thelower portion of the chamber C. These three branches have respectively, the manually actuated control valves 36, 37 and 38. The branch 34: also has a control valve 39 which is actuated by a float 4.0 in the chamber C.

The arrangement of the chambers ,and.

their valve connections is such that the chamber A may be used as the heating chamher and either chamber B or C as a separating chamber; or the chamber B may be used as the heater and the chamber C as the separator. In all cases the third chamber may be completely isolated so that it may be cleaned or repaired without interfering with the operations in the other two chambers. v i

Taking first the condition in which the chamber A is employed as a heater and the chamber B as a separator, and the chamber 0 isolated or out of service: In this case the valve 4 will be open and the valve 4* closed; valve 36 is open and valve 38 closed; valves 23 and. 37 are closed; valves 21 and 22 are open; valve 14 is open and valve 15 is closed; valves (land 10 are open and valves 7 and 10 are closed.

With the valves in these positions steam and water will be delivered to the chamber A and heated water will be delivered to the chamber B. The water flowing over the dis 'tribut-ing device at the upper portion of the chamber A drops to the water level of the separator and the heated water is drawn out through the branch 18 of the pipe 17 and is delivered through the branch 19 into the distributor 28. The temperature of theis supplied to maintain a definitely lowertemperature in chamber B than the tem-' ,perature of the water in chamber A immediately before it enters the distributor 28. This difi'erence in temperatures and pressures produces a change of phase of a sulficient percentage of the liquid as itenters, the chamber B, to drive 011' or release the air and gas contained therein. Thevapors released by this change in phase are then condensed' in the condenser and the air and other non-condensable gases are drawn oil through the condenser 16. For economical denser and the 0hr 1 momenoperation the water which is supplied to the water for the condenser to enable it thereby to absorb andv return to the heater substan-- tially all the heat energy which is dissipated by the maintenance otthe vacuum in the separator.

" When it is desired to isolate the chamber B, and to use-the chamber A as the heater and the chamber C as the separator, the steam connections to the chamber A are the same. As in the condition first described, the inlet water connections will be the same, but the valves 35, 22 and 37 will be closed and the valves 38 and 23 will be open. With this arrangement the water will leave the heater A through the branch 18 as before, but will pass down into the distributor 30 of the chamber C through the branch connection 20 and will be distributed over the base 31. The valve 14 will be closed and the valve 15 open so that the chamber C will be connected directly with the condenser while a communication between the conber B is cut off. In this case the treated uid is taken oil' through the branch 35 of the pipe 32, instead of through the branch 33 of said pipe, as in the first described condition. In the third case in which the chamber A is isolated and the chamber B is used as the heater, and chamher 0 as the separator, the valve 4 will be will be closed and valves 7 and 10 open; valves 22, 23 and 36 in pipe 32 will be closed, while valves 36, 37 and 38 will be open.- Steam will now enter the chamber B and the li aid to be treated will also enter said cham er and after being heated will pass out through the branch 33 into the distributor 30 through the branch 34.

.The advantages of my invention will b apparent since it provides apparatus of the character described in which the separation r and other dissolved cases from liquids can be carried on continuously notwithstand ing the necessity for cleaning and repairs. It will be obvious that the number and arrangements of the chambers can be widely varied as may also be the arrangement of the connections to and between the several chambers and of the controlling valves {or such connections.

I claim:

i 1. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a plurality of chambers,

and connections whereby at least one of said chambers may be isolated from the others at will and at least one. of said chambers may be used either as a liquid heating.

chamber or a chamber receiving gheated liquid and separating gases therefrom, sub

stantially as described.

2. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising aplurality of chambers,

, stantially as described.

means for heating separately certain of said chambers, means for connectin said chambers in series, said last name means permitting any one of said chambers to be isolated while the remaining chambers are in operation, and means for separately withdrawing liquid from certain of said chambers, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprisin at least three chambers, and connections w ereby at least one of said chambers can be used interchangeably either as a heater with one of said chambers or asa separator with another of said chambers, substantially as described. 4. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a plurality of chambers,

connections therefor, and valves in said connections, whereby atleast'one of the cham-' bers can be used interc-han eably either as a beaten with one of said c ambers or as a having means whereby either a heated liquid or a heating medium may be supplied thereto, and a condenser independently connected to at least twoof the chambers, sub- 6. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a plurality of chambers,

at least two of said chambers having means whereb, either a heatin medium or a liquid eated by said medlum may be supplled thereto, a condenser connected to atleast two of the chambers, together with means for isolating any one of said chambers from the others, and also-for isolatin either of the chambers to which the condenser is connected from the condenser, sub= stantially as described; 1 v

7'. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a plurality of chambers anytwo of which are adapt d to be direct ly connected, and means w ereby some of said chambers may be used interchangeably either as heatingor as separating chambers, andalso whereby any oneof said chambers may be isolated, substantially as described.

8. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a plurality of chambers any two of which may be directly connected independently of the others, means whereby a heating medium may be supplied at will to one of two connected chambers irres spective of which two are c'onnected,'and a vacuum, condensing means adapted. to be connected at-will to the other of two connected chambers independently of the others, substantially as-desc-ribed.

,9. Apparatus 'for separating air from gases, comprising a. plurality of chambers an two of which may be directly connected in ependently of the others, means whereby -a heating medium may be supplied at will to one of two connected chambers irrespective of which two are connected, and a condenser adapted to be connected at will to the other of two connected chambers independently of the others, substantially as described.

10. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising at least threechambers, connections between said chambers whereby any two of said chambers may be directly be treated to at least two'of the chambers, and means in said connections for isolating any one of the chambers while the other chambers remain in operation, substantially as described. q

11. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising three chambers, a supply connection for the liquid to be treated eading to at least two of said chambers, supply connections for a heating medium also connected to each of the said two chambers, a connection for supplying the liquid heated in either of the said two chambers to the third chamber, and a'similar connec-.

tion betweenthe second and third of, said phambers, together with valves for controlscrfioedr 12. Apparatus for separating gases from 'said conne tions,"subst antially as. de- I liquids, comprising three chambers, asup-, ply connection for the liquid to be treated leading to at least two of said chambers,

supply connections for .a heating medium also connected to each of the said two cham.-"

bers, a connection for supplying the liquid heated in either. of the sand two chambers to the third chamber, and a similar connection between the seeond'and third of said chambers, eachof said chambershaving liqlltl 'uid distributing means therein, substantially as described.

13. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising three chambers, a sup---" ply connection for the liquid to betreated leading to at least two of said chambers, supply connections for a heating medium I "a substantially constant liquid. level in each of said' chambers, substantlally as described.

14. Apparatus for separating gas from liquids, comprising three chambers any: two

connection for supplying the liquid T bers, together with means "for maintaining perature conditions between either the first and second, the first and third, or the second and third of said chambers when operating together, substantially as described.

15. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising three chambers, means for supplying liquid to be heated to either one of two of said chambers, means for supplying a heating medium to either one of said two chambers, a condenser connected with one of said two chambers and, also tothe third chamber, a liquid supply connection from the'first of said two chambers to each of the other chambers and a liquid supply connection from the second of said two chambers to the third chamber, substantially as described. v

16. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising three chambers, means for supplying liquid to be heated to either one of, two of said chambers, means for" supplying a heating medium to either one of said two chambers, a condenser connected with one of said two chambers and also to the third chamber, a liquid connection from the first of said two chambers to each of the other chambers and a liquid supply con-' nection from the second of said two chambers to the third chamber, together with valves in said connections whereby any one of the three chambersimay be isolated from wetness the others and from the condenser, substantially as described.

'17. Apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprisin three chambers, means for supplying liquid to beheated to either one of two of said chambers, means for sup- ,plying a heating medium to either one of said two chambers, a condenser connected with one of saidtwo chambers and also to the third chamber, a liquid supply connection from the first of said two chambers to each of the other chambersand a liquid supply connection from the second if said two chambers to the third chamber, together to at least either of two of said chambers,

and flow connections between said chambers, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i 4

JLIAM S. ELLIOTT, 

